2014 Chevrolet Malibu: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu: 6 recalls, 351 owner complaints and up to 29 mpg combined.
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Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Visibility (wipers, glass), Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #13V567000 · 2013 · 42,696 vehicles
What's wrong: The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in these vehicles May intermittently become inoperable when the vehicle is started, preventing the windshield defroster from working. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) no. 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging systems."
Why it matters: The inability to turn on the windshield defroster May decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic climate control module software, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #14V092000 · 2014 · 355 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster May disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect." they also fail to conform to fmvss number 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention."
Why it matters: If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver May be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position May not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to…
The fix: General motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #14V240000 · 2014 · 8,208 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May have had brake rotors intended for the rear of the car accidentally installed on the front. The rear rotors, while the same diameter, are thinner and May result in a front brake pad detaching from the caliper.
Why it matters: If a brake pad detaches from caliper, there May be a sudden reduction in braking, lengthening the distance required to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brake rotors, and install the correct rotors with new brake pads, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2014.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #14V247000 · 2014 · 140,067 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l engine with the auto stop/start option. The affected vehicles May experience a complete loss of brake vacuum assist, disabling the hydraulic boost assist. As such, these vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 135, "light vehicle brake systems."
Why it matters: If the hydraulic boost assist is disabled, slowing or stopping the vehicle will require additional brake pedal effort and a lengthened stopping distance. Both of these effects increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic brake control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2014.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #15V164000 · 2015 · 87,063 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the slide or tilt switch for the roof panel May not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) no. 118, "power-operated window, partition, and roof panel systems."
Why it matters: The slide or tilt roof panel switch May inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel May auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module (bcm) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015.
Electrical, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V502000 · 2016 · 8,367 vehicles
What's wrong: Also, certain 2013 Buick encore, 2011 Buick regal, 2013-2014 Buick verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC terrain vehicles May have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 114, "theft protection…
Why it matters: If the key is removed without the transmission in park, the vehicle May rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 8 mention a fire, 17 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (125): the most common themes are warning light on (46), stalls / loses power (33).
- Electrical (86): the most common themes are electrical failure (26), stalls / loses power (23), warning light on (22).
- Other / unknown (54): the most common themes are warning light on (12), stalls / loses power (11), electrical failure (7).
- Transmission & drivetrain (52): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (26), warning light on (12), stalls / loses power (11).
The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu has 351 owner complaints, ranking #21 of 29 Malibu model years for complaints (well below the 667 average). Complaints peaked in 2020 (66 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 60,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2013 (836 complaints, 10 recalls), 2015 (270 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 36 | 29 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2014 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
Owners have filed 351 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (125), electrical (86), other / unknown (54).
What gas mileage does the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu get?
EPA ratings run up to 29 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.